Contract staff will be given paid rest days

Companies tendering for government service contracts must comply with the statuory minimum wage rate, and include one paid rest day a week.

According to Hong Kong Information Services Department, government service contracts engage mainly non-skilled workers.

For existing government contracts, if the wages of non-skilled workers are below the statutory minimum, contractors should make up for the shortfall from the same date.

The Government will make an exceptional arrangement to authorise top-up payments to contractors to cover the cost increase, to protect jobs and ensure efficience public services, said Secretary for Labour & Welfare Matthew Cheung.

The Government will also introduce a transitional arrangement to ensure wages for non-skilled workers will not be reduced when the statutory minimum wage is implemented.